Houston, We Have a Problem

Houston We Have a Problem is about the current energy crisis and America's addiction to oil, as viewed from the perspective of those at the center of these issues: the Houston oil barons. Using photos and archive footage, the film looks back to a time when reserves seemed infinite and it was a commonly held belief that the United States would remain dominant in the market. These assumptions lie at the root of large-scale energy consumption. As early as the end of the 1960s, however, it started to become clear that oil reserves were limited and that America was overly dependent on foreign states for energy. When the OPEC countries closed off supplies in 1973, the inherent danger of the situation became apparent and the entire economy stagnated. As the oil sector sees it, the government has learned little, and the film uses sound bites to illustrate how successive presidents have expressed concerns, but done nothing. Meanwhile, domestic production is in continual decline and the reserves are even being used up. Electric cars are not the answer, because fossil fuels remain the most important source of electricity. Perhaps the sustainable energy sector could learn something from the oil sector, because the search for sources of oil involved millions of dollars and the taking of great risks -- all for that one great discovery. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)